Being led by the Spirit to reach out brings challenges -
but our church family is changing by leaps and bounds

Just a few years ago, our children's department was getting smaller. We had about three children of elementary age attending. Many of the active youth group graduated and there were only a few teenagers. One of our church members, a teacher, brought a couple of students from school as guests. Another staff person challenged us to reach out to some children who were slipping through some of the other systems. These students and children did not have family that attended this church. We picked them up and brought them. And they wanted the van to come and get them again. They wanted back. And they brought a few friends and siblings.

Since then more staffing and additional volunteers of all ages have provided much needed leadership, love and guidance. We had strategized in committees and struggled with plans to take care of our church and prepare for the future. Many talked about various programs to reach out, Change is difficult. We had great ideas. Some of these stayed as ideas but bit by bit some ideas started becoming action steps. Shifting the focus to outside of our own church walls, to the neighborhood, to community schools, we found challenges we couldn't handle on our own. But, with God, we are finding ways. We have gone from a few children and a few youth to over a hundred and then some. We have struggled with finances on how to feed "our children" now. But we are feeding them. They eat together on Wednesday nights and Sunday nights. Sometimes they eat with other church members after church on Sundays. Also, we are feeding them more than food. And they are providing spiritual food for our church family as well.  Our church has found grant money to help us do this. And because of this ministry, 1stChurch is attracting some young families who are excited about seeing a church that reaches outside of itself to find purpose in community.